Clamp nailing apparatus



Sept. 15, 1959' A. MAZZOLA CLAMP NAILING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 11, 195'?2 Sheets-Sheet 1 57 59 A/Vff/O/V) MAzzozA BY INVENTOR.

Sept. 15, 1959 A. MAZZOLA CLAMP MAILING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJan. 11, 195'? INVENTOR.

A W L 0 N M v y a m A Mv ay United States Patent CLAMP NAILING APPARATUSAnthony Mazzola, Westmont, ill.

Application January 11, 1957, Serial No. 633,677

3 Claims. (Cl. 1--149) My invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in a clamp nailing apparatus and has for its principalobject the provision in an apparatus of this character of apneumatically ope-rated clamp nailing hammer.

Another object of my invention is in the provision in an apparatus ofthis character of a supporting structure for the pneumatically operatedhammer.

Yet another important object of my invention is in the provision in anapparatus of this character of an adjustable work-piece holder.

Still another object of my invention is in the provision in an apparatusof this character whereby the supporting structure for the pneumaticallyoperated hammer is adjustably mounted with respect to a base for suchapparatus.

An equally important object is in the provision of a device of thischaracter whereby the work piece holder is adjustable horizontally withrespect to the base and pivotable through an are about a horizontalaxis.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings showing the preferred form of construction.

Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of my clamp nailing machine;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of my invention;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of my invention;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view showing the work piece holder in itspivotal position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the base and work pieceholding structure of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the pivot block of thework-piece holder;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of my clamp nailinghammer;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of my clamp nailing hammer;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig.7;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a clamp nail associated with myapparatus.

My invention relates to a clamp nailing apparatus employed for clampingtogether by a suitable clamp nail the mitered corners of picture framesor the like. The purpose of the apparatus is to permit the frame cornersto be placed in position on a suitable work piece holder with theirmitered corners in confronting relation. The particular type of clampnail hammer to be hereinafter described is then pneumatically operatedto drive the clamp nail into the inner sides of the mitered corners ofthe frame.

To accomplish the hereinbefore mentioned subject of my invention, Iprovide a base 10. Mounted in spaced relation upon the base 10 are apair of plates 11 and 12. These plates 11 and 12 have at one endvertically extended cars 13. At their opposite ends, they provide a Aice vertically extending forwardly arcuated supporting arm 14. Thesearms 14 have formed therein arcuated slots 15 for the purposehereinafter explained.

Pivotally mounted on the cars 13 by means of a nut and bolt arrangement16, are supporting posts 17. These posts 17 are substantially hollow andprovide a housing for rods 18. The free ends of the posts 17 have arotatable head 19 providing threadable connection to the rods 18 whichare like-wise threaded throughout their longitudinal length. As such therods are telescopically threadable to the posts 17. A suitable set screw20 is provided on the posts 17 adjacent the heads 19 for locking therods 18 in selected position with respect thereto.

A top plate 21 is provided with depending cars 22, which ears aremounted in slots formed in the free ends of the rods 18 as shown inFigs. 1 to 3. The rods 18 and ears 22 are then pivotally connected bymeans of a suitable nut and bolt arrangement 23. A top plate 21 on oneside thereof and adjacent the ends thereof have welded theretorearwardly extending and downwardly arcuated supporting arms 24 muchlike the supporting arms 14 provided on the plates 11 and 12. These arms24 have formed therein arcuated slots 25 for the purpose hereinafterexplained.

The posts 17 have fixedly attached thereto links 26. These links 26 havea nut and bolt connection 27 to the supporting arms 14 through the slots15 formed therein.

The rods 18 have fixedly attached thereto links 28. These links 28 havea nut and bolt connection 29 to the supporting arms 24 through the slots25 formed therein as shown in Fig. 3. These links 26 and 218 addrigidity to the posts 17.

The above described arrangement permits the posts 17 and rods 18 to bepivoted about their connections to the plates 11 and 12 and top plate 21respectively by having the free ends of the links 26 and 28 movablethrough the slots 15 and 25. Thus the posts 17 and the top plate 21 arepivotable through a horizontal axis and may be then fastened at anangle.

Carried by the top plate 21 is a depending collar 30. This collar 30provides bracket arms 31 which terminate into a second collar 32.Between the collars 30 and 32 and the bracket arms 31, is an aircylinder 33. This air cylinder 33 has by a suitable conductor 34communication with a compressed air supply source not shown.

The air cylinder 33 is of any well-known construction and as such has amovable plunger 35 associated therewith. The free end of the plunger 35is connected by a suitable link 36 to one end of a hammer shaft 37. Thehammer shaft 37 is movable through a hollow head 38. The shaft 37 isslidably contained in a head 38, by means of a pin and slot arrangement.The shaft 37 has an elongated slot 39 formed on one side thereof. Thehead 38 has an internally extending pin 48 carried by one wall thereofand having one end projecting into the slot 39 of the shaft 37. Undersuch arrangement the shaft 37 may slide in and out of the head 38 adistance equal to the length of the slot 39.

The inner end of the shaft 37 has fixed thereto a driver 41. The lowerend of the head 38 tapers inwardly from two sides thereof to a pointthat is equal in width to the width of the driver 41 as shown in Fig. 7.The head 38 through the tapered sides thereof is slotted as at 42. Thedriver 41 is of such a length that in its normal position the free end41' thereof will be adjacent the inner end of the slot 42 as shown inFig. 9.

The shaft 37 has coiled thereon between the head 38 and the nut 43, acoil spring 44. This spring resists th movement of the shaft 37 into thehead 38.

Embracing the tapered sides of the head 38 is a guide bracket 45. Thisguide bracket 45 has enlarged sides 46 which cover the lower end of theslot 42 as shown in Fig. 8. This bracket is attached to the head 38 bymeans of the screw 46. The purpose of such bracket 45 will hereinafterbecome apparent.

One side wall of the head 38 is provided with an opening 47 which hascommunication with the. slot 42 formed in the head 38. Extending fromthis opening 47 and into the slot 42 is one end of a tension spring 48.This spring 48 is attached to the head 38 by the screw 46' which alsoattaches the bracket 45 to the head as seen in Figs. 7 and 8.

The operation of the above described pneumatically operated hammer is asfollows:

A suitable clamp nail 49 (see Fig. is inserted into the slot 42 of thehead 38. The sides 46 of the guidebracket 45 act to position the clampnail 49 in such slot. The nail is of such a length that it will pass theend of the tension spring 48 which is extending through the opening 47and into the slot 42 as hereinbefore described. The tension spring 48will hold the clamp nail in its inserted position. When the plunger 35and the air cylinder 33 is expelled outwardly therefrom, the shaft 37will move into the head 38. The head 38 will be retarded when it engagesa piece of work held by a workpiece support hereinafter described. Thedriver 41 will engage the clamp nail 49 and by continuous movement ofthe shaft 37 into the retarded head 38 will drive the clamp nail 49 intothe mitered corners of the picture frame or the like.

To maintain the direction of travel of the plunger 35 in its downwardmovement, I have provided a guide rod 59. This guide rod 50 is carriedby the collar 32 and is slotted as at 51. Adapted to ride in this slot51 is a projection of the link connection 36 between the plunger 35 andthe shaft 37.

In cooperation with the pneumatic clamp nailing means as hereinbeforedescribed, I provide a work piece support structure. This supportstructure comprises a plate 52 slidably supported by the base 10. Theends of the plate 52 underride flanges 53 of side mountings 54. Thesemountings 54 are attached to the base 10 by means of screws 52' or thelike. As such the plate 52 is slideable beneath the flanges 53transversely of the length of the base it The front wall of the base 10has secured thereto a vertical extension 55. This extension 55 has athreaded aperture formed therein and through which is threaded apositioning screw 56. The opposite end of the screw 56 is journalled inthe front wall of the plate 52. Under such an arrangement, as a screw 56is threaded in or out of the aperture of the extension 55, the plate 52is slidably positioned on base 10. The screw may be provided with a turnhandle or a suitable enlarged head portion for conveniently threading itthrough the aperture of the extension 55.

Carried by the plate 52 are two spaced apart angle irons 57. Thehorizontal flange of the irons 57 are attached by screws 58 or the liketo the plate 52. The vertical flange of the irons 57, by pins 59rotatably support a block 60. This block 60 has a rectangular shapedrear section 61 with the top side thereof grooved as at 62, Figs. 2, Sand 6. The forward portion of the block 60 is triangular in shape as at63. Pivotally attached to the rear side of the triangular portion 63 bymeans of pins 64 are pivot posts 65. These posts 65 have their bottomedges round to correspond to the groove 62 of the rear section 61 asshown in Fig. 6. The posts 65 provide reduced portions 66 which areadapted to be journalled in bearings 67 carried by work supports 68.These work supports 68 have their inner ends mitered as at 69. Thesework supports 68 provide Work supporting flanges 75 and 71 as viewed inFig. 5. The bearings 67 provide set screws 72 for fixedly attachingbearings 67 to the posts 65 at any point throughout the longitudinallength thereof.

Threaded into the plate 52 in a vertical relation thereto are stopscrews 73 having a head 74 engageable by the flange 71 of the worksupports 68 when the supports are in operative position with respect tothe plate 52. By the above description and arrangement of parts thevertical alignment of the work supports 68 may be varied by the threadedposition of the stop screw 73, when the block 68 is pivoted about itsconnections 59, as viewed in Fig. 4. By the employment of the posts 65and the attaching thereof of the bearings 67, the work supports 68 maybe adjusted relative to each other to receive various size work piecesor be readily replaced if necessary.

The clamp nail as employed in my invention is shown in perspective inFig. 10. The nail 49 has laterally extending sides 75 alongitslongitudinal edges as shown. Such sides 75 will engage the sides of thehead 38 adjacent the slot 42 formed therein. The side edges of the head38 adjacent the slot 42 may be rabbeted to receive such sides 75 of theclamp nail 49. The sides 75 are held adjacent the head 38 by the guidebracket 45 hereinbefore described.

In operation of the device, the work supports 68 are positioned relativeto the post 65' to correspond to any form of mitered corners of the workpiece. The supports 68 are then pivoted about the pins 59 as shown inFig. 4. The work pieces are placed on the supports 68 with their miteredcorners in confronting relation and the work pieces are then pivotedback into a position such as is shown in Fig. 3. In Fig; 3 the supports68 are shown in a substantially vertical relation with respect to thepneumatic hammer means. If it be desired that the clamp nail 49 beinserted into the work pieces at an angle rather than from avertical'plane, stop screws '73 may be raised from the base 52 so'that'their engagement with the flanges 71 of the supports 68' prevents thesupports 68 from returning to a substantially vertical position. Such aresult if desired will depend on the size and type of work beingperformed upon. The air cylinder 33 is then actuated through a suitableswitch (not shown), to drive the clamp nail 49 into the mitered cornersof the work piece.

As the supports 68 are positioned vertically about a horizontal axis sotoo is the pneumatic hammering means through the use of the arms 14 and24- as well as slots 15 and 25 and links 26 and 28 as hereinbeforedescribed. The position of the head 38 with respect to the work support68 may be vertically regulated through the threaded connection betweenthe'posts-1'7 and the'rods 18 as hereinbefore described.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have provided asuitable clamp nail apparatus and work support therefor.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited tothe precise detailsof construction set forth, but desire to'avail myself of such variationsand modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. A clamp nailing machine comprising a base, a plate slidably mountedon said base for horizontal movement relative thereto, a work piecesupport rotatably carried by said plate, means for horizontally movingsaid plate and said work piece support relative to saidbase, means onsaid base for supporting a clamp nailing member above and in spacedrelation to-sa-id work piece support, means for vertically adjustingsaid clamp nailing member relative to said work piece support, and meanson said supporting means providing a pivotal connection between saidmember and said supporting means, whereby said member may be movedthrough anare about a horizontal axis relative to said base and saidsupporting means for positioning said member for operative engagementwith a work piece on said work piece'support.

2. A clamp nailing machine comprising a base, a stand on said base forsupporting a clamp nailing hammer above and in spaced relation to saidbase, said hammer having a movable hammer shaft depending therefrom,means providing a pivotal connection between said hammer and said stand,means for pivotally connecting said stand to said base, means on saidbase for supporting a work piece in spaced confronting relation to saidhammer shaft, means forhorizontally adjusting said work supporting meansrelative to said hammer shaft, and means for moving said hammer shaftinto engagement with a piece of work supported upon said work supportingmeans.

3. A clamp nailing machine for jointing the mitered corners of a Workpiece, comprising a base, a work piece support carried by said base forsupporting the mitered corners of a work piece in abutting relation,means on said base for horizontally slidably positioning said support onsaid base, means providing a pivotal connection for said support wherebysaid support may be pivoted through an are about a horizontal axis intowork piece 6 receiving position, a clamp nail hammer support carried bysaid base above and in spaced confronting relation to said work piecesupport, a clamp nail hammer carried by said support, means on saidclamp nail hammer support for adjusting the vertical relation of saidhammer to References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS 199,579 Rose Jan. 22, 1878 1,014,639 Colwell Jan. 16, 19122,543,942 Shaff Mar. 6, 1951 2,774,968 Osborne Dec. 25, 1956

